Using Disk Cleanup in Windows XP to remove unwanted clutter
This article only applies to computers running Windows XP and other Windows operating systems that include the Disk Cleanup tool.
As you use your computer, you will build up a collection of files that Windows or programs use to operate more efficiently. Many of these files will be automatically downloaded from the internet when you browse web sites (this is a normal feature and nothing to be concerned with). Also, programs often create temporary files when they are running. In addition, when you delete files from your computer they will be transferred to the recycle bin and not permanently deleted until you empty the recycle bin. Over time these files can build up using up space on your Hard Drive. This is rarely a problem and with the size of disks these days the space used is fairly small (although the recycle bin can become quite large over time).
The Disk Cleanup utility is a Windows tool used to analyse and delete all these unwanted files from your Hard Disk.
To run this tool click Start, All Programs, Accessories and System Tools to display the sub-menu containing the Disk Cleanup utility.
When you run the utility it will spend some time searching your Hard Disk for unneeded files - this could take some time depending on the number of files you have (my computer takes 5-10 minutes to complete this analysis). While it is doing this you will see the following status window:
After the computer has been scanned you will see a dialog with the results. This window shows the different types of file that can be deleted. To get more information about an option just click on it and you will see that the description changes to tell you about it.
Select the files that you want deleted and then click OK - this will delete the files and free up the amount of disk space displayed.
Brought to you by theshop@camposol-computers.com Providers of wireless internet technology.
Tel 968 199 191